Higher Education: SIU Dental school passes out new scholarships

Three students from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine are the recipients of the school’s new Dean’s Scholarship.

Fourth-year dental students Andrew Martens of Colona, Jon Owen of Collinsville and Eric Safranski of Granville were each awarded the $5,000 scholarship.

“Their respective journeys and accomplishments in life have distinguished them as deserving scholars,” Bruce Rotter, dean of the school, said of the recipients. “The SIU School of Dental Medicine is grateful for the generous support of alumni, faculty and friends of the school whose contributions allowed for the creation of this new tradition.”

Martens will now begin the Endodontics program at St. Louis University’s Center for Advanced Dental Education. Owen is reviewing options to begin practicing dentistry locally, and Safranski plans to continue his studies by entering an oral and maxillofacial surgery program and dedicate much of his time to Operation Smile.

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The SIU School of Dental Medicine students manage approximately 35,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton and East St. Louis.

SWIC program offers trips

If you’re looking for an interesting trip, Southwestern Illinois College’s Programs and Services for Older Persons leaders want to be your travel guide.

Extended travel opportunities offered by the program include:

▪ A trip to Santa Claus, Ind., Dec. 4-6: Have supper at Santa’s Lodge, see the lights at Rudolph’s Lake, roast chestnuts at Santa’s Candy Castle, browse the shops and have your Christmas cards postmarked from Santa Claus. Cost is $439 per person for double occupancy and $547 for a single.

▪ A trip to Hawaii from Jan. 17-26: Participants will visit the islands of Oahu, Hawaii and Maui during peak whale season. Highlights include visits to Pearl Harbor, Volcanoes National Park, a macadamia nut farm, a vanilla vineyard, a lavender farm, a luau, a coffee plantation and more.

Day trips include:

▪ Visit St. Genevieve, Mo., on Oct. 17 to tour the 1792 Balduc House. Have lunch at the Audibon’s restaurant and take a tour of the only tiger sanctuary in the Midwest followed by a tasting at Crown Valley Winery. Cost is $99 per person.

▪ Learn about people who have shaped St. Louis and the country on Oct. 30. This riding tour will take you through Bellefontaine Cemetery, Calvary Cemetery, New Mt. Sinai Cemetery and Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Lunch is at the historic Bissell Mansion. Cost is $79 per person

▪ Visit Fulton, Mo., on Nov. 14 to tour a church built by Christopher Wren and learn about Winston Churchill and his “Iron Curtain” speech as you tour the memorial and library. After lunch at Cherie’s Cake Boutique and Tea Room, enjoy a stop at a winery. Cost is $95 per person.

For more information about any of these trips, contact Group Travel Specialist Nancy Bauer at 618-234-4410, ext. 7020.

Orchestra adds second McKendree show

The Count Basie Orchestra has added a second show at McKendree University’s Hettebhausen Center for the Arts.

Originally set to perform Friday, Oct. 2, that show quickly sold out. So another performance has been added for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.

Founded in 1935 in Kansas City, the orchestra is one of the most well-known swing music bands in the world. It has won 18 Grammy Awards through the years.

Tickets are $26 for adults, $22 for seniors and $10 for students and children.

Lindenwood to host candlelight vigil

The vigil will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the campus at 2600 W. Main Street. It will feature St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly.

According to statistics, women who are 18 and 19 years old, the age of college freshmen, are the most likely to be the victims of stalking. By age 20, one in three women will experience dating violence and women age 20-24 face the highest rate of sexual assault.